2024 Inductee Bios

7 elected to RH Hall of Fame, 2024

By Glenn Miller
Roy Hobbs Baseball

The Roy Hobbs Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes: Sam Ceci of Idaho, Jim Dyvig of Minnesota, Gary Foran of Nova Scotia, Rick Miller of Tennessee, Bill Russo of Ohio, Rich Seiler of Washington, and Joe Williams of Alabama.

Elected by a vote of members of the Hall of Fame and Members of the Board of Trustees, these gentlemen will be inducted in ceremonies on November 2 and 16 at Sidelines Sports Grill in Fort Myers during the 2024 World Series.

Additionally, the Trustees selected Greg Wagner as the 2024 Ambassador of Baseball.

Here is look at each of the 2024 inductees:

Sam Ceci

When Bruce Doney and Mic Stump vetted Hall of Fame candidate Sam Ceci, they realized Ceci was worthy. Very worthy, as a player and man of character.

“From what I have seen and been given, Sam checks all the boxes for the type of players we are looking for in the Roy Hobbs Hall of Fame,” Doney said.

Doney and Stump know what is required to earn election to the Hall of Fame. They are both Hall of Famers.

Stump noted that Ceci, 73, has played 16 years with the Washington Titans, who won 10 World Series in those years.

In 2007, he was the World Series MVP with an otherworldly .729 batting average.

In 16 World Series he has never batted lower than .500.

The men who vetted Ceci vouched for his character, pointing out many positive traits such as being humble, friendly, supportive of teammates and competing with class.

As a young man Ceci played at a high level, nearly reaching the majors. He shares his experience and wisdom with teammates, encouraging them and providing advice.

Ceci knows about a World Series other than Roy Hobbs. He was a catcher on USC’s 1971 team that won the College World Series and was coached by the legendary Rod Dedeaux.

Ceci was a 40th-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers and reached AAA in 1976 with the Spokane Indians, who were managed by slugger Frank Howard.

Ceci never reached the majors but has reached the Roy Hobbs Hall of Fame.

Jim Dyvig

Jim Dyvig does more than play baseball. He was nominated for the Hall of Fame based on managing, sponsoring and being an administrator.

The St. Louis Park, Minn. resident makes it possible for others from his neighborhood leagues to play and to travel. He helps build teams that having last impact. That includes the Minnesota Bandits, a long-time Roy Hobbs World Series fixture.

Dyvig first came to the World Series in 1998 but started playing amateur baseball in Minnesota in 1990. That was 3 years before the World Series moved from Central Florida to Fort Myers.

Hall of Fame nominator Paul Tate noted that Dyvig was on the administrative board of Minnesota Senior Mens Amateur Baseball Association (MSMABA) for 15 years.

He helped implement a four-fold growth of that league, from 8 teams to 32 teams during that time. That led to his induction into the MSMABA Hall of Fame in 2019.

According to Tate, in the 2023 World Series alone, there were 5 teams and approximately 100 players that were either directly or indirectly involved because of Dyvig’s influence.

He has assembled teams in age groups ranging from 35-plus and into the 60s. Dyvig brings 2 teams to the World Series every year and has helped nearly 200 players participate in the World Series.

Dyvig was just a few weeks shy of turning 44 in 1998 when he played in his first World Series. He will turn on 69 on Dec. 13.

“We didn’t win a game,” Dyvig said. “But I was hooked.”

This is what he told his wife, Marlys: “Look how many of my friends go deer hunting.’Roy Hobbs is now my deer hunting trip.”

Gary Foran

Gary Foran’s nickname is The Commish.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia, resident was nominated for the Hall of Fame as an administrator, which explains the nickname.

He’s credited with building the Nova Scotia Monarchs through what his Hall of Fame references refer to as a combination of “vision, determination and work ethic.”

What Foran, 77, has helped build is now considered among the best in Canada. The Monarchs sent 7 teams to the 2023 Roy Hobbs World Series.

“If ever there was someone who was qualified to become a member of the Hall of Fame from an administrator’s standpoint, it’s Gary,” Hall of Famer Flip Harrison said.

Foran founded and leads the Nova Scotia Monarchs Baseball Association. It started with 10 players in 2010 and has grown to about 200 players across multiple divisions.  Monarchs teams have won 6 medals, including two gold, at the World Series.

Foran has organized year-round baseball in Canada. They play indoors from January to April

Foran’s organizational wizardry extends beyond Roy Hobbs. He brought the Canadian National Seniors Baseball Championships to Halifax in 2022.

Hall of Fame reference Eric Anthony said Foran never forgets a name and is respected by all the 200-plus players in the league.

Anthony added that Foran was a union president for more than 32 years and turned down management positions to remain loyal to employees.  He also started a women’s baseball division that has 4 teams in Nova Scotia.

Foran’s dedication extends beyond the field. He arranges and funds an annual Thanksgiving dinner at the World Series for all Monarchs teams.

Rick Miller

Rick Miller is the type of player everybody wants as a teammate. That helps explain why he was nominated and elected to the Hall of Fame as a player. He will be inducted at the relatively young age of 58.

His Hall of Fame references spoke in glowing terms about the Carthage, Tenn., resident and his passion for the game.

Here are comments from his Hall of Fame vetting report

“First to say, ‘I’m in.’”

“Quiet leader.”

“100 percent in to help the team win.”

“Country strong.”

“He lives for October and November in south Florida.”

When fans watch a televised MLB game they hear about the obsession over pitch counts.

Pitch counts?

Miller pitched in a Memorial Day tournament in Atlanta and threw 298 (298!) pitches in two days.

Miller is more than a talented and dedicated player. Ask Hall of Famer Joe Adams.

“Rick Miller’s impact on Roy Hobbs Baseball and the broader community is nothing short of exemplary,” Adams said. “Rick’s dedication spans over two decades, marked by his unwavering commitment to team success. Despite being one of the top players on his team, in his league, Rick epitomizes humility and team spirit, never hesitating to support his teammates or accept any role necessary for the team’s benefit.”

Voters were also struck by this measure of Miller’s character, that despite his skills being sought by teams playing at higher levels, he remained committed to his teammates.

He is also the founder and manager of the Murfreesboro Mudcats and Tennessee Dirtbags.

From reference Donnie Burns: “Approaches each game with boyish joy and thankfulness … Considered epitome of adult competitive baseball in middle Tennessee … Described as potential silhouette for a Roy Hobbs logo.”

Bill Russo

Bill Russo, 70, resides in Solon, Ohio. The name of his town is fitting for Russo, who was elected to the Hall of Fame as an administrator/manager/organizer. The word “solon” is from ancient Greece and among its meanings is “a wise and skillful lawgiver.”

Administrator might also apply, but then Russo is an elected member of Solon’s City Council.

“Bill will always allow others to get the glory or the honor because his desire in life is for others to win or be satisfied,” Hall of Fame reference Tim McGoldrick said, “He doesn’t seek the limelight, just the results. He leads in his community and in life.”

Character is at the heart of the Roy Hobbs Hall of Fame. Unlike other Halls of Fame, it is about more than compiling statistics.

“To say I am impressed with the man would be a huge understatement,” Hall of Fame member Steve LaRussa said. “This is the kind of guy they make Hall of Fames all about. His personal dedication to helping run the leagues, play through numerous surgeries AND donate massive sums of money to field creation speak volumes of the man.”

Russo is a fixture at the Roy Hobbs World Series, bringing teams to Fort Myers since 1997.

He’s used his administrative acumen as president of leagues.

Hall of Fame reference Tony Martin attests to that: “He has been an administrator in the Greater Cleveland Adult Baseball league since 2007,” Martin said. “In 2010, he took complete control and re-organized GCAB into a non-profit organization. He expanded the league from 8 teams and one division to 25 teams and 4 age divisions.”

Sounds like a true Solon.

Rich Seiler

Rich Seiler’s credentials on and off the field are remarkable. He’s a standout baseball player, Naval Academy graduate, fighter pilot and retired Delta airline captain.

He also checks off character boxes required for election to the Roy Hobbs Hall of Fame. Bill Bierne vetted his candidacy and noted that he is a “stellar citizen.”

“The kind of teammate we all would like to have,” Bierne said.

Seiler, 67, was nominated as a player. The Sammamish, Wash., resident’s baseball resume includes coming to the World Series since 2003, playing in AAAA and winning 11 World Series rings.

His first trip to the World Series was with the Rainiers. He played on AAAA champs with the Washington Titans from 2010 through 2012.

When the Titans moved up in age divisions, Seiler moved to the Border City Brewers in 2014 and played on 45-plus and 53-plus championship teams in AAAA. He’s a three-time team MVP for the Brewers.

Seiler’s .411 collegiate batting average is a record at the Naval Academy. He holds the two highest single-season batting averages in program history, .467 in 1979 and .435 in 1980.

In a vetting report for Seiler’s candidacy Hall of Famer Mic Stump used terms such as epitome of professionalism, camaraderie, always willing to help, never exhibiting a “me attitude but always had a “team” attitude.

Stump added that Seiler is “one of the greatest players in 30 years of Roy Hobbs Baseball.”

Seiler was a fighter pilot and flight instructor in the Navy and then was a Delta pilot flying overseas routes.

Joe Williams

Joe Williams, a Hoover, Ala., resident. was nominated as a player. His Hall of Fame qualifications were attested to by Hall of Famer Bart Waldman.

“He is typically the best player on virtually every AAAA team he has played with,” Waldman said. “He is historically a shortstop, but when he plays down in age often plays third base or second base. He is always a No. 3 or No. 4 hitter, and typically the best hitter on every one of his championship-level AAAA teams. There can be no doubt that he meets the ‘exceptional’ requirement of our Hall of Fame standards as to his play on the field.”

Dominican Republic rivals nicknamed him “El Asesino” (The Assassin) for clutch performances.

Earning election to the Hall of Fame requires more than exceptional talent. Character is of paramount importance.

“Joe is liked by everyone,” Waldman said. “I never heard a negative comment. His references talked about how well he treats his employees at his restaurant in Birmingham, and how he helps his less experienced teammates.”

Williams, who turns 57 on Nov. 16, is a restaurateur who owns Giuseppe’s Cafe in Birmingham, Ala.

When his restaurant was closed for six months for repairs, he still paid his employees.

He has been playing in the World Series since 1995 and has at least 6 Roy Hobbs World Series championships in various age divisions.

Williams played for Cincinnati teams before joining Pittsburgh teams. He was team MVP for the Border City Brewers in 2020 when they won the AAAA Legends title.

Ambassador:  Greg Wagner

For more than 30 years Greg Wagner has been a fixture on the sidelines of the Roy Hobbs World Series.

He has taken hundreds of thousands of photos, action, team, individual, Hall of Fame and special requests from the Hobbs folks.

Greg Wagner has been selected as the 2024 Ambassador of Baseball.  It is an award created in 2015 by the Hall of Fame Trustees to recognize service to the game of Baseball; they are recognized with a plaque for their Meritorious Service as an Ambassador of Amateur Baseball.

Since the inaugural event in Kissimmee in 1989, every Roy Hobbs player over the years has certainly seen Wagner toting his camera gear around the various World Series venues. Everybody might not know his name, but they know the face and his work.

Shortly after Wagner began photographing the Roy Hobbs World Series, the event moved to Fort Myers, where Wagner resided and still resides.

“I feel like probably the luckiest sports photographer, baseball photographer on Earth,” Wagner said.

Wagner used to play in a local league in Fort Myers.  His understanding of the game puts him a position to capture one of those images he is known for.

Over the years Wagner has shot so many games and teams over so many years that he could not even estimate how many.

But the number of Roy Hobbs players photographed by Wagner is likely more than 100,000.

… Certainly, qualifies him as a fixture and an Ambassador of the game.